THE MANAWATU COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8729, 17 September 1906, Page 3

THE MANAWATU COURT.

It hae been an open secret in Palmerston North for some time past that the proposal to establish/ the Manawatu Court in connection with the Exhibition has not met with that cordial support which tho objects of the project merited at the hands of business people generally. The "Manawatu Daily Times " expresses the opinion of many people when it says that it is a pity that antipathy should have been shown towards the scheme. The question, however, was fully discussed at a meeting of the local Executive, when a definite line of action was agreed upon, to be submitted to a general meeting of the committee this week. The Executive requires £150 more to enable the court to be established, but the lack of interest > and sympathy has placed the Executive in an awkward position. The chairman stated, at the meeting that he was afraid the whole thing would end in "smoke," and that the deposit paid to the Exhibition Commissioners would be forfeited. Mr P. C. Freeth stated that he and other members of the Executive had spent a great deal of time and some money hi travelling through the district interviewing local bodies and trying to work up interest. The response had been quite inadequate. The people of Palmerston North seemed to be tired of having the hat carried round to them. They were now faced with the position that if they did not pull up, the members of the Executive, four or five in/nuniber, would have to meet a responsibility of at least £150 i It was decided to call a meeting of the original committee and of exhibitors for to-morrow, to "consider the abandonment of the Manawatu court, the forfeiting of the deposit to the Commissioners, the refunding: to local bodies of sums allocated,, and the return of deposits to exhibitors.

The' Maori Committee met at the pa on. Saturday afternoon, and decided upon a scheme for drainage and other improvements at the pa. It has been decided that visitors to the pa must obtain tickets, from members of the Maori Committee. It is expected that the result of the visit to Wellington of Messrs Frostick, Kiaye and Booth will be known tomorrow. The Cabinet will discuss the matters brought before it by the deputation to-day. Mr T. H. Race, joint-Commissioner for Canada with Mr Burns, Mr R. L. Broadbent, the Dominion mineralogist at the Exhibition, ' and Mr H. C. Kowlton, fruit expert, have arrived in Christchurch, and attended' at the^ Exhibition Buildings this afternoon. .